New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-03
THE HORRORS OF POL
AN INDIGESTIBLE FEAST WITH KALAKAUA
-CANDLE-NUT AGONY.


subject which have hitherto been unable to mink
Of without excruciating quaims Indigestion mas
never to my knowledge, been made the subject OIL q
newspaper letter, but the present communication Is
largely based upon 1t. few days ago went 10 d
"J NAM pronounced lnow) and am now slowly re-
covering "what Il a Iuau 2" hear the reader
inquire. "Iuau," my friend. Is barbarous plot
against the peace and well-belng Of the human stoh
ach an instance Of savage gastronomy, provocative
of nightmares and biiousness-in short hae'o
feast. Great preparations had been made Tor IT. ]"
was to be "royal luau," gotten up under the
patronage Of the King himself; the invitations came
direct from the palace and royalty had promised 10
grace tho head Of the table. one OF tho many gooo
friends that we had made In Honolulu came LOT us W
his carriage; enjoyed charming ride through
tho town, among this banana plantations ana carp
ponds and along the edge Of the emerid-and-Sap-
nbr.tnted sea- and turned Into the royal park at the
eastern end Of the city, where the King has warm
weather bungalow. Tho Kings chamberlain met US
as we left carriage and escorted us 10 inc pawn
Ion in which his Majesty and his friends were ENJOY
Ing tho cool shade, the tradc-winds and champagne
frappe. We were shown into room that was plainly
and sensIbly furnished and had upon tie walls por-
traits Of former Kings and Qucens-tosether WIN
framed address that was presented to inc King oh
the occasion OF his visit to New-York, and 10 winch
he afteward called our attention with cohsiucraoio
pride. The King Immediately enteres from inc We
randa which overlooked tho scene OF the coming
was little about him to suggest the monarch-he mao
no crown on, carried sceptre and did not even
wdar tho famous $4,000 cloak OF yellow feathers
which is the distinctive mark OF Hawaiian royalty
His appearance was simply 'hae !"
llghttnted colored gentleman OF peifect
manners. he was dressed In com
pletc suit OF white flannel and carried straw ha'
I'm his hand. Around his neck he wore LEI pro-
nounced lay, garland OF flowers, ana ano'her Vi
rich yellow blossoms encrcled his hat HIS features
were Of strong native type he looked neither pet,er
nor worse than half the male Hawaiians Oh nuui'
ago whom meets In Honolulu
After few moments chat VIC made our saiaains
and went out into the park. II was filed Win gayV
dressed natives members OF the royal family ana tne
noabllities OF Honolulu; the Royal HAWAIIAN bahu'
all It's members dressed in white, was hoodns 'e az
with the stralns OF Strauss and Ofenbach ana III tho
Intervals of Instrumental music corps OF hauNc
snga,s. male and female, chanted palntVe aho sen
suous Hawaiian songs. At one end OF the park was
spread a large tent, open at tho Sides III WHICH W.
saw tempting array OF fruits and howers' ana
d.sflay of bottles which showed that whatever inc
character OF the food might be, there was to DO no
lack In the quantity or quality oil liquid reioshmoh'
Beyond the tent the processes Of native cookery "ero
approaching their termination: an appehhng door OF
baked meats n smoke az from the burnt offering Vi
rams and goats, steam suggestive OF chSin'"o"
from tendcr youthful pigs, BLENDED tosother anu
came to US down the brccze-thc ceremonies IN honor
IDENTIFY about TO begin.
At this interesting moment the Kings chamberlain
aeaIn appeared before Us. "Hs Majesty would feel
honored II We would fail into tho procession To INC
tent directly behind himself and tho members VI bis
fatrilw and sit with him as tho head or
the table" wo THANKED the Chamberlain for the
Kings attention. in aay little thing lkc that we wouo
be pleased to crafty him. Royalty appeared OF tho
door Of the pavilion. with a female branch VI IL
family har ging upon each arm. md % aking brave
show In robes OF brOcaded bac. republloanlsm
I'm us embodied, followed after: her guests sue
ceedcd and moving 10 the strain. stirring march
by the band we entered the banquctingtcn passed
around the hollow square formed by tho tables and
took our positions az the top Of them Goodioohihg
Hawaiian girls. from fourteen 10 twenty years oi age
stood behind the company aud filed the open space
inside tho tables, bearing long wands. set Will
punches OF vaTiegatcd feathers, With which they
famed the guests and waved away the intrding
MOSQUITOES All these madens drssed In white
and-like every Hawaiian In holiday tme-woro ABOUT
their necbs and heads "lels" of fragrant flowers
After an address Of welcome by tho King We are
are desired to III down and fall TO- We prepare TO
do 80. when-heo! wherc are tho chalrsl There an
none and IL any were provided what In the "Vfio
would you do With them at table that i raised ho
m Jro than six inches from the grOundl We look III
the King. lie has curled his legs up under him aho
IL
uDon the earth around tho festive board We do I'D
Honolulu As tho Honoulanz d. squat ourselves like so
many Turks about the table, and at tho Close oi tho
feast find all our legs asleep. and experience ho
sensation Of having no feet whatever his oFeh'"
and unaccustOmed attitude being at last assumed We
look about at tho viands. They seem 10 consist
chiefly OF raw fish and piles OF uiinvting boiled
leaves fnterspersed with sea-wocd ana live shrlmps
which are checnuIy wriggling and hopping over the
tablecloth. We feel our appetite taking sudden
congo; we only 10 look on, anyway, we say !:
we never take anything to eat In the middle Of tho
afternoon. waiter brings us disb, WIZ inc
chaniberlalns compliments We look into II ana see
raw crab lying OH bed Of gllstcning sea-weed
IAN excellent appetizer" says the walter We
tpass" on the uncooked crab, but try the sea-wecd
Concentrated iodine with dash Of chlorine ahn IN
infused taste Of sour fcrmcntauOnl open that botte
OF Pommery Sec at once a draught Of the foaning
liquid relieves Of this taste Of ttas e1oeient appe
tier" Sea-wecd, foOrsoOthi 1t Is nothing less
than sauer-knut with the dclFtum tIemenS' pho
OF the boiled leaves before Is deity opened by an
attendant, and bchodl delicious baked muiict'
king Of edible fishes partalng OF which we dooialc
that there Is merit In Hawaiian coohery "'"
all. Beside each plate stands large caiabash of
"poin the pIeoe do resistance Of every native rpas'
IL II made from the root Of the ta0-an escWohO Vi
tho Aurlm famIly-which IL ground into Hour, beaten
into dough with stone pestlcs mixed with water ana
allowed TO fcrment II Is OF faded lavender COLOR
and looks like b-posters paste-tastes Hike H. 700,
when the bliposter has becn careless and allowed "
TO sour. There is mild flavor OF moldiness about
spot" which Is much admired by natives but when
my palate IL little educated 10 appreciate IL Is
made In three forms, which vary only In Consistency
and are excessively described "one-1ngcr,"
"two-nnger" and "threc-hnger poi" The lone
finger" grade Is the tlickcst, tho "thne-fngcr" tho
thlnnest TO the latter and not smear ones self and
ones neighbors Is to attain tho hight OF tfenchor ab
ity in Hawaii 1t may be unnecessary 10 explain
the my stenes OF "Ioi"-catng any furhcr-ln the
present instance the honorcd adase that fingers
were made before FORKS" dsfcgaded and the latter
artificial utensils employed No MAKO but itto
impre-siOn calabashcs OF "poI'-cycn with the
assistance Of dried fish, and pungcnt sauce made OF
the cande-nut (which tastes like burned almonds ano
continued so to taste four days after tho "iuau -
only n memory the national dish remained inslpid.
Others better endowed by nature, or with supei LOT
advantages I'm tho way Of gastronomic education.